Membrane catalytic reactor comprising heteropolyacid catalyst and polysulfone membrane

Abstract

A membrane catalytic reactor which comprises a heteropolyacid selected from the group consisting of 12-tungstophosphoric acid, 12-molybdophosphoric acid, 12-molybdotungstophosphoric acid, and 12-tungstosilicic acid, and polysulfone membrane is provided. This membrane catalytic reactor is applicable to vapor-phase dehydration, dehydrogenation, oxidation, and simultaneous separation of organic or inorganic materials, particularly vapor-phase dehydration of ethanol.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A membrane catalytic reactor which comprises: a first disc plate having a sample inlet at its center;   a catalyst bed;   a catalyst bed support located under and axially aligned with the first plate and having a tapered hole at its center containing the catalyst bed and for guiding a flow of sample through the tapered hole of said support;   a second disc plate located under and axially aligned with the catalyst bed support having a center hole to support said catalyst bed support in a fixed relationship and further defining a buffer zone, said second plate further having an outlet from the buffer zone to the atmosphere for evacuating discharged materials on its side;   a polysulfone membrane located under and axially aligned with the second plate;   a polysulfone membrane support located under and axially aligned with the polysulfone membrane for supporting said polysulfone membrane, the membrane support being porous so that the gases can permeate through the polysulfone membrane and said membrane support;   a set of thermocouples located between a top portion of the polysulfone membrane and the catalyst bed for sensing and controlling the temperature of the reactor;   a third disc plate located under and axially aligned under the membrane support forming the base of the reactor to keep the polysulfone membrane and the membrane support fixed and having an outlet at its center for evacuating the gaseous material which have permeated through the polysulfone membrane;   a first O-ring seal inserted between the first plate and the catalyst bed support;   a second O-ring seal inserted between the catalyst bed support and the second plate;   a third O-ring seal inserted between the second plate and the polysulfone membrane; and   a fourth O-ring seal inserted between the polysulfone membrane support and the third plate.   
     
     
       2. The membrane catalytic reactor of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is a heteropolyacid selected from the group consisting of 12-tungstophosphoric acid, 12-molybdophosphoric acid, 12-molybdotungstophosphoric acid, and 12-tungstosilicic acid.